Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Music Box • Musical

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

The Sound of Music is a landmark musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, based on Maria von Trapp’s memoir. Set in 1938 Austria, it tells the story of a young postulant who becomes governess to the von Trapp children.

What It Is

The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on Maria von Trapp’s 1949 book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers and premiered on Broadway in 1959.

Why It Matters

It was the final collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein and remains one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The story’s Canadian connection — the von Trapp family later settled in Canada after fleeing Austria — gives it a direct link to Canadian audiences.

Key Details

The musical is set in Austria in 1938, just before the Anschluss. It was written for Mary Martin, and a major film adaptation directed by Robert Wise was released in 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

In short

  • Based on Maria von Trapp’s memoir
  • Final Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration
  • Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss
  • 1965 film adaptation starring Julie Andrews
Canadian angle

The von Trapp family later settled in Canada after fleeing Austria, which gives the story a direct connection to Canadian history and audiences.

Quick questions

What is The Sound of Music?
It is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about Maria, a postulant who becomes governess to the von Trapp children in 1938 Austria.
Who wrote The Sound of Music?
The music was written by Richard Rodgers, the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and the book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
What is it based on?
It is based on Maria von Trapp’s memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Music
    Supports: Basic work identification, creators, source material, and setting.
  2. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sound-music
    Supports: Broadway musical context, creators, and relation to Mary Martin.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Sound-of-Music-musical-by-Rodgers-and-Hammerstein
    Supports: Musical overview and Rodgers-Hammerstein authorship.
  4. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Sound-of-Music-film-by-Wise
    Supports: 1965 film adaptation, director, cast, and awards context.